Insect-catcher



(No Model.) I

H. c. H'UMPHREYS & 0. WM. SKERRBTT.

INSECT GATGHER.

No. 550,345. 5 Patented Nov. 26, 1895.

v A zzorzvg z UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY O. HUMPHREYS AND CHARLES W. M. SKERRETT, OF PHILADELPHIAPENNSYLVANIA.

INSECT-CATCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,345, dated November26, 1895.

Application filed J 11116 4, 1895. Serial No. 551,682. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HARRY C. HUM- PHREYS and CHARLES W. M. SKERRETT,citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the countyof Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Insect- Catchers,of which the following is afull, clear, and exact specification.

Our invention relates to a new and useful improvement in devices forcatching insects; and it has for its object to provide such a device bywhich insects may be attracted and allured into contact with a sticky oradhesive surface without becoming aware of such surface until caughtthereby.

WVith these ends in view the invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth,and thenspecifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which our invention appertainsmay understand how to make and use the same we will describe itsconstruction and operation in detail, referring by number to theaccompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which thefigure is a central vertical section of our improved device.

In the drawing, 1 represents a collapsible lantern, preferably made oftranslucent paper, stretched upon suitable ribs 2; but the material ofwhich this lantern is made is immaterial.

3 are a number of small holes formed in the Walls of the lantern for thepurpose of supplying air to the flame, as will be hereinafter set forth.

4: is a ring or band secured to the lower edge of the lantern, and 5 isa removable bottom having the flange 6, adapted to fit snugly within theband 4, so as to be retained by friction against accidental withdrawal,and this bottom is provided with a suitable holder 7 for the candle,which latter is shown in dotted lines.

12 is a closed top secured to the lantern.

11 is a saucer-shaped receptacle, preferably made of thin woodveneering, or it may be made of sheet metal or paper, as may be foundmost convenient, and this receptacle is adapted to fit upon and besecured to the bottom of the lantern or the band 4 in such manner as tobe in a position to catch disabled insects, which may first becomeentangled with the sticky substance upon the surface of the lantern andby great effort disengage themselves therefrom, but who have not thepower of locomotion sufficient to retain their equilibrium and willtherefore fall within said. receptacle. This receptacle will also serveto catch any drippings or downfiow of the sticky material which may becaused to run by reason of the action of the heat thereon from thecandle within the lantern, so that the hanging of this lantern overtables or in other places will not become objectionable by the stickymaterial dripping therefrom, and this receptacle may be supplied with asuitable quantity of the sticky material in the first place, or thatwhich runs therein after the candle has been lighted will serve to catchinsects independent of the surfaces of the lantern, after the manner ofthe ordinary fly-paper, or poisonous fluid may be placed in thereceptacle, so that flies and the like upon drinking thereof willbekilled. Thus it will be seen that a completely-closed lantern isprovided in which a candle may be lighted and placed by the removal ofthe bottom 5, and the air necessary for the support of the flame of thecandle will be fed through the holes 3, as before described. Over theentire outer surface of of the lantern we apply a sticky or adhesivematerial, such as that used in connection with fly-paper, and as thismaterial is translucent, as well as the lantern to which it is applied,the light of the candle will so illuminate the lantern as to conceal thepresence of the adhesive material and attract insects thereto, and whenthey come in contact with this material they will be caught thereby andprevented from further locomotion.

The object of the holes 3 is twofold: first, to supply air to the candlewithin the lantern, and, second, to permit the radiation of the lighttherethrough in streams that are uninterrupted by having to pass throughthe translucent material of which the lantern is formed, and these raysof light radiating in all directions will penetrate to a greaterdistance than the light which passes through the walls of the lanternand greatly assist in attracting insects to the device.

If found desirable, the holes 3 may be large enough to admit the passageof insects to the inside of the lantern, and the inner walls of saidlantern may be covered with an adhesive material similar to its outersurface, and insects passing to the interior of the lantern will be sodazed by the light therein that the holes 3 will appear to be dark spotsin contrast to the light reflected from the inner surfaces of thelantern, so that they will be deterred from passing through said holesand escaping, and sooner or later they will come in contact with theadhesive material upon the inner surface and be caught, or the adhesivematerial may be omitted upon the inner surface and the insects gainingaccess to the interior of the lantern permitted to die from exhaustionor constant contact with the flame of the candle and fall into thebottom, which may be removed and emptied at intervals.

Thus it will be seen thatwe have provided a neat and efieotive trap forinsects at an insignificant cost.

8 is a handle, preferably of metal, by which the device may be suspendedin any convenient location.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new anduseful is- An insect catcher consisting of a lantern having collapsiblesticky walls, a bottom, a candle holder arranged on the bottom and asaucer shaped receptacle having upwardly and outwardly extending edges,attached to the lower part of the lantern, as and for the purposedescribed.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY O. HUMPHREYS. CHARLES V. M. SKERRETT. 'Witn esses S. F.WILLIAMSON, E. O. \VURDEMAN.

